Plug-in connector for a combination cable

ABSTRACT

A connector for a combination cable comprising at least one light guide and several electric lines has body, which can be introduced in the plugging direction into a socket and by means of which the connector can be held in the socket, a light guide holder having a light guide reception channel open at both sides and at least two contact elements in each case connectable to one of the electric lines.

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector for a combinationcable comprising at least one light guide and several electric lines, acombination cable with such a connector, as well as a socket for usewith the connector.

[0002] Combination cables with a light guide and several electric linesare fundamentally known and are e.g. used in endoscopy systems with anoptoelectronic camera, e.g. a CCD camera. The electric lines in thecombination cable are used for connecting the optoelectronic camera to asupply and evaluating device, in order to on the one hand supply asupply voltage to the optoelectronic camera end on the other to transferimage data or arrays acquired by the camera to the supply and evaluatingdevice, where evaluation thereof takes place. The light guide in thecombination cable is used for transmitting light of a light sourcelocated in the supply and evaluating device into the area of theoptoelectronic camera, so as to illuminate at least part of the visualrange of the optoelectronic camera with light from the light source. Inthe case of endoscopy systems, the light passing out of the light guidedoes not necessarily have to directly strike the area to be illuminatedand can instead be passed to said area by deflection using a furtherlight guide or other optical means.

[0003] The light guide can comprise a monofilament or severallight-conducting fibres.

[0004] In order to ensure a maximum illumination level at the receptionlocation accompanied by a low power consumption of the light source, thecombination cable is normally fixed to the supply and evaluating device.The light guide extends into the vicinity of the light source, so thatlight from the latter is efficiently fed into the same. This avoidsconnections between light guides, which either lead to high losses orwhich can only be produced with considerable effort and expenditure.

[0005] However, certain disadvantages result from the fixed connectionbetween combination cable and supply and evaluating device.

[0006] Thus, it is only possible to a certain extent to clean and/orsterilize the combination cable, which must generally pass into thevicinity of the patient to be treated, because generally the supply andevaluating device is not sterilizable due to the electronics containedtherein.

[0007] Moreover, in the case of damage to the combination cable, simplereplacement thereof is impossible. Changing between cables of differentlengths is also impossible, although such a possibility of change wouldbe desirable particularly when using the endoscopy system for differenttreatment types.

[0008] The problem of the invention is to provide devices to detachablyconnect a combination cable comprising at least one light guide andseveral electric lines to other devices, whilst creating a combinationcable suitable for detachable connections.

[0009] This problem is solved by a connector having the features ofclaim 1, a combination cable having the features of claim 7 and a sockethaving the features of claim 14.

[0010] A connector according to the invention for a combination cable ofthe aforementioned type has a body, which can be inserted in a socket ina plugging direction and by means of which the connector can be held inthe socket, a light guide holder having a channel open at both sides forreceiving the light guide and at least two contact elements in each caseconnectable to one of the electric lines.

[0011] As a result of the construction of the connector according to theinvention, it is simultaneously possible to provide a connection for thelight guide and the electric lines.

[0012] The combination cable according to the invention has at least onelight guide and at least two electric lines. One end of the combinationcable is connected to the connector according to the invention andelectric lines of the combination cable are conductively connected tocontact elements of the connector. The light guide is so positioned inthe channel of the light guide holder, that it projects from the body inthe plugging direction. This is made possible by the inventive channelin the light guide holder of the connector.

[0013] The light guide can comprise a single monofilament or also agroup of light-conducting fibres.

[0014] A socket according to the invention has a socket body forreceiving the connector according to the invention and a socket channelpassing through the socket, for receiving a portion of a light guide tobe inserted in the inventive connector when the latter is plugged intothe socket and contact elements connectable to electric lines forcontacting the contact elements of the inventive connector.

[0015] Through the combination of the inventive connector on aninventive combination cable with the inventive socket it is possible toeasily provide a detachable connection both for the light guide and forthe electric lines. In particular, light from a light source can be feddirectly into the light guide of the combination cable, if the connectorwith said combination cable is plugged into the inventive socket, thelight guide extending through the inventive light guide holder channelend the light guide portion projecting from the body in the pluggingdirection can be guided by the inventive socket channel directly intothe area of the light source, so that the feeding in of light requiresno further connection between two light guides and the intensity lossesresulting from such a connection can be avoided.

[0016] Further developments and preferred embodiments of the inventionare described in the description, claims and drawings.

[0017] Preferably the contact elements for the connector according tothe invention are positioned on at least one circle running coaxially tothe light guide holder. The contact elements in the socket according tothe invention are also located on at least one circle passing coaxiallyto the light guide holder. This symmetrical arrangement makes itpossible to press the connector into the socket without significanttilting. Thus, a light guide projecting from the connector body oninsertion into the socket channel can be less easily deformed andpossibly damaged through tilting.

[0018] In particularly preferred manner for this purpose, the contactelements are mutually spaced by identical angular distances.

[0019] In the case of the contact elements of the connector, they can beconstituted by contact pins and then the socket contact elements arepreferably constructed as contact springs. However, the contact pins canalso be located in the socket, so that the contact elements of theinventive connector are constituted by contact springs.

[0020] Preferably a portion of the inventive connector body open in theplugging direction has a sleeve-like construction, the contact elementsbeing located within the sleeve portion of the body. Thus, particularlywhen the contact elements are constituted by contact pins, the contactelements are on the one hand protected against mechanical damage and anthe other against unintentional contacting with e.g. statically chargedobjects. In addition, a contacting between the contact elements of theconnector and the socket at an appropriate sleeve depth can only takeplace then the body is guided by the socket body, so that there can beno contact element-damaging tilting of the connector in the socket.

[0021] In order to be able to position at a greater distance from thesocket a light source whose light is to be fed into the light guide ofan inventive combination cable, the portion projecting out of the bodyis preferably constructed in such a way that the light guide end ispositioned outside the socket when the connector is plugged into saidsocket.

[0022] With the combination cable according to the invention, it ispreferable for the light guide to project from the body in the pluggingdirection by at least four times its diameter.

[0023] Preferably the light guide of the combination cable according tothe invention and independently of its diameter projects in the pluggingdirection out of the body by at least 10 mm and in particularlypreferred manner by 30 mm. Thus, independently of the light guidediameter, it is possible to avoid high heat loading of the socket, ofthe electrical connections connected to the contact elements of saidsocket and the housing wall holding the socket by a light source, whoselight is fed into the light guide of the combination cable.

[0024] The portion of the light guide of the inventive combination cableprojecting from the connector body can be deformed or even broken off bythe weight of the light guide or by careless or incorrect handling ofthe connector or a combination cable provided therewith and this canoften lead to damage to the light guide. In order to prevent bending ofthe light guide portion projecting from the body, said portion can beprovided in the combination cable according to the invention inpreferred manner at least in the portion projecting over the body in theplugging direction with an element stiffening the light guide andpreferably a corresponding, bending-resistant jacket.

[0025] However, preferably the supporting and guiding of the light guidetakes place by means of the light guide holder of the connectoraccording to the invention, which for this purpose projects beyond thebody in the plugging direction. Thus, the light guide located in thelight guide holder channel can be particularly well protected againstdeformations, particularly bending. In this case the socket channel isconstructed in such a way that the light guide holder can be inserted insaid channel.

[0026] Preferably the light guide holder portion extending beyond thebody in the plugging direction has a length of at least 10 mm and inparticularly preferred manner 30 mm, in order to bring about an adequatestiffening and supporting of a light guide introduced into the lightguide holder channel. As a result of such a supporting action the lightguide portion of an inventive combination cable projecting over theconnector body can be particularly long in order to permit an adequatelylarge spacing between a light source and a socket receiving theconnector. In particularly preferred manger the light guide holder canreceive the light guide at least up to its free end.

[0027] Preferably the light guide holder of the inventive connector, atleast in the portion extending beyond the body in the plugging directionhas a tubular construction, which firstly, as a result of symmetry, cansignificantly facilitate the first insertion of the light guide holderinto the socket channel and secondly permits inexpensive manufacture.

[0028] In particularly preferred manner on the connector and the socketbody can be provided guide elements, which ensure the centring necessaryfor the contacting of the contact elements and an azimuthal orientationof the connector with the socket. These can in particular be constitutedby a lug on the connector or in the socket and a corresponding recess inthe socket or in the connector.

[0029] However, preferably, a centring can also be brought about in thatthe cross-section of the light guide holder of the connector accordingto the invention in a centring portion which, considered in the pluggingdirection, is located between the contact elements and the end of thelight guide holder is not rotationally symmetrical to an axis extendingin the plugging direction. The channel of the socket according to theinvention then preferably has a portion with a cross-section, whoseshape corresponds to the cross-section of the non-rotationallysymmetrical light guide holder portion. The cross-sections are chosen insuch a way that it is possible to completely insert the light guideholder portion projecting over the body in the plugging direction intothe socket channel. Thus, following the insertion of the light guideholder into the socket channel, there can simultaneously be an azimuthalorientation of the contact elements with respect to one another. Such across-section change can also lead to a further mechanical stiffening.

[0030] In order to permit a reliable anchoring of the inventiveconnector in an inventive socket, the connector body is preferablyprovided on its outer circumference with an element for a latchingconnection, by means of which the connector can be locked in theinventive socket which has a corresponding element for the latchingconnection. The latching elements can e.g. be a resilient catch on theconnector and a corresponding recess in the socket body. However, inprinciple, the latch can also be located in the socket, the connectorbody then having a corresponding recess.

[0031] In particularly preferred manner, a sleeve movable parallel tothe plugging direction and surrounding the connector body is providedand this makes it possible to release a latching connection with respectto a socket. This makes it possible in simple manner to release theconnector from a socket.

[0032] Preferably the other end of the combination cable according tothe invention is connected to a camera head, which has an optoelectroniccamera connected to the electric lines provided with a focussing deviceadjustable for focussing purposes and a light guide channel open in thecamera viewing direction and in which is located the light guide forilluminating at least part of the visual range detectable by the camera.The viewing range is here understood to mean the range which is imagedby the optoelectronic camera and which when using corresponding opticaldevices need not be located directly in front of said camera. Thus, thestatement that the light guide is provided for illuminating at leastpart of the visual range covered by the camera also does not mean thatthis range or area must be directly illuminated, but instead that lightexiting the light guide can be deflected either by a further light guideor by other optical devices onto the area to be imaged by theoptoelectronic camera.

[0033] Such a combination cable with camera head can be easily connectedin detachable manner to a supply and evaluating unit. Thus, thecombination cable with camera head can be separated from the supply andevaluating unit for cleaning and/or sterilization or for interchangingwith another combination cable.

[0034] For easy focussing purposes, the camera head preferably has amovable focussing ring, which is so connected to the focussing devicethat by moving the focussing ring the focussing device is adjustable.This makes it possible for the camera head user, particularly when usingit in conjunction with an endoscopy system, to simultaneously hold thecamera head and focus the optoelectronic camera with a single finger,e.g. the thumb.

[0035] In order to permit easy operation of the optoelectronic camera orother electronic devices, a corresponding switching device is providedon the camera head portion located in front of the optoelectronic camerain the viewing direction. In particular, the electric lines leading tosaid switching device can be the lines of the combination cable. Thismakes it possible with only one hand to simultaneously guide theoptoelectronic camera and at certain times to store and/or print outimages acquired by said camera by operating the switching device.

[0036] In particular in conjunction with the movable focussing ring,this leads to a camera head which can be very easily operated with onehand, together with an optoelectronic camera, which as such may not havethe combination cable and/or connector according to the invention.

[0037] A further object of the invention is a device for coupling orfeeding light into the light guide of an inventive combination cable,which has an inventive socket and a light source, which is positioned insaid device in such a way that the light emitted by the light source canbe fed into the light guide located in the inventive connector of thecombination cable, when said connector is plugged into the socket. Inparticular, a corresponding spacing can be provided between the socketand light source and this corresponds to the length of the light guideportion sending beyond the body in the plugging direction.

[0038] In particularly preferred manner and for the better feeding in ofthe light emitted by the light source, there is an optical device forfocussing the light emitted by the light source onto the end of thelight guide. Preferably the spacing between the socket and the focussingdevice is made to correspond to the length of the light guide portionextending beyond the body in the plugging direction, which ensures aparticularly high light efficiency.

[0039] A further object of the invention is a plug connection systemwith an inventive connector and an inventive socket.

[0040] A further object of the invention is an endoscopy system with anoptoelectronic camera, a supply and evaluating device with a lightsource and a combination cable, which comprises a light guide forilluminating at least part of the visual range of the optoelectroniccamera with light from the light source and electric lines for theelectrical connection of the optoelectronic camera to the supply andevaluating device, in which the combination cable can be connected indetachable manner to the supply and evaluating device. This can inparticular be achieved when using an inventive combination cable and acorresponding inventive socket and an inventive device for feeding lightinto he light guide of the inventive combination cable.

[0041] In such an endoscopy system the combination cable can be easilyremoved for cleaning and/or sterilization or easily replaced in the caseof damage. It is also possible to use combination cables of differentlengths with a single supply and evaluating device.

[0042] A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described inexemplified manner relative to the attached drawings, wherein show:

[0043]FIG. 1A diagrammatic, partial view of an endoscopy systemaccording to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0044]FIG. 2A diagrammatic, perspective view of a portion of thecombination cable with the connector according to the preferredembodiment of the invention.

[0045]FIG. 3A part sectional view of the connector of FIG. 2 in a socketaccording to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0046]FIG. 4 diagrammatic sectional view through the camera head of FIG.1.

[0047] In FIG. 1 an endoscopy system according to a preferred embodimentof the invention has a camera head 2 with an illumination system, asupply and evaluating device 4 and a combination cable 6 connecting thecamera head 2 to the supply and evaluating device 4 in accordance withan exemplified embodiment of the invention.

[0048] The combination cable 6 is used for transmitting a supply voltageand electric signals between the camera head 2 end the supply andevaluating device 4 and for the supply of light to the camera head 2from the supply and evaluating device 4.

[0049] For this purpose the combination cable 6 has in a jacket 8 alight guide 10 and several electric lines 12. As is not shown in thedrawings, the light guide 10 comprises a group of light-conductingfibres.

[0050] Whilst the camera head 2 is connected in fixed manner to the endof the combination cable 6, by means of a connector 14 located at theother cable end, by means of a socket 16 in a housing wall 18 of thesupply and evaluating device 4, the combination cable is connectedthereto.

[0051] For the supply of the camera head and the evaluation of theimages taken, the supply and evaluating device 4 has an electronic unit20 connected to the socket 16. A light source 22 is also provided andits light can be focussed by means of a lens 24.

[0052] The connector 14 in conjunction with the socket 16 are used forthe connection of the combination cable 6 to the supply and evaluatingdevice 4. In FIG. 2 the connector 14 has a sleeve-like body 26 with acircular cross-section, which is connected to one end of the combinationcable 6, the transition between the body 26 and combination cable 6being covered by a plastic cuff 28.

[0053] A light guide holder 30 is positioned coaxially to the body 26and in the plugging direction x extends beyond the body 26 byapproximately 65 mm and in a channel 32 contains the light guide 10 ofthe combination cable 6, which terminates at the end of channel 32located in plugging direction X.

[0054] The light guide holder 30 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3.It is essentially tubular with a wall thickness of approximately 05 mmand has a fixing portion 34 with a greater wall thickness, to which thelight guide holder is fixed in a holding ring 36 secured in body 26. Atits end located in the plugging direction X, the light guide holder 30is bevel ed in order to permit easy insertion of the connector intosocket 16.

[0055] The light guide holder 30 also has a stiffening tube 38 with alength of approximately 33 mm and a wall thickness or approximately 0.5mm, which surrounds the tubular portion of the light guide holder 30receiving the light guide 10 and which extends by roughly a third intothe socket 16 and by two thirds beyond the same in the pluggingdirection X, when the connector 14 is plugged into the socket 16.

[0056] In the interior of the body 26, the holding ring 36 containssixteen contact pins (cf. FIG. 2) on a circle coaxial to the body 26,the light guide 10 and light guide holder 30 and which by means ofconnector terminals, whereof only terminal 42 is visible in FIG. 3, areconnected to electric lines 12 of combination cable 6. (of FIG. 3)

[0057] The socket 16 located in the housing wall 18 of the supply andevaluating device 4 has a socket body 44, which is provided with anexternal thread 46 and a collar 48, so that it can be slid into anopening in the housing wall 18, as is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1and can be fixed by a nut 50 screwed onto the external thread 46.

[0058] The socket body 44 is pot-shaped, so that the body 26 ofconnector 14 can be engaged in the pot opening of the socket body 44.

[0059] The socket body 44 also contains a hollow cylindrical portion 52,whose external diameter is selected in such a way that the wall of thebody 26 of connector 14 can be slid with only limited tolerance betweenthe inner wall of the socket body 44 and the outer wall of the hollowcylindrical portion.

[0060] As is only diagrammatically shown in FIG. 3, the tubular portionalso has holes 54 with contact spring elements, which are conductivelyconnected to corresponding socket terminals on the other side of thesocket body 44, whereof only socket terminal 56 is shown in FIG. 3. Bymeans of the socket terminals and lines which are e.g. soldered theretoand whereof FIG. 3 only shows line 58, the contact spring elements areconnected to the electronic unit 20. The holes 54 are positioned in sucha way that on inserting the body, 26 into the socket body 44, thecontact pins 40 of the connector can be introduced into the holes 54with contact spring elements of socket 16.

[0061] The hollow cylindrical portion 52, together with a correspondinghole in the socket body 44, forms a socket channel 60, whose internaldiameter corresponds to the external diameter of the fixing portion 34.As the external diameter of the light grade holder 30 in the areaupstream of the firing portion 34 in the plugging direction is smallerthan in the fixing portion 34, this permits an easy introduction of thelight guide holder 30 into the socket channel 60. Simultaneously as aresult of the press fit between the fixing portion 34 and socket channel60, there is a precise positioning of the light guide holder 30 andconsequently the light guide 10 contained therein.

[0062] According to the invention the light guide holder 30 with thelight guide 10 projects in the plugging direction beyond the body 26, asshown in FIG. 3 and following the insertion into the socket 16 throughsocket channel 60 continues well into the interior of the housing of thesupply and evaluating unit 4 (cf. FIG. 1). The light source 22 and thefocussing lens 24 are positioned directly upstream of the end of lightguide 10, so that a precise focussing of the light of light source 22onto the end of the light grade 10 is ensured by the precise positioningof the light guide holder 30 and consequently a good feeding in of lighttakes place.

[0063] This arrangement ensures a comparatively large spacing betweenthe light source 22 and lens 24 from the portion of socket 16 locatedwithin the housing of the supply and evaluating device 4, so thatneither the housing wall 18, socket 16 nor socket terminals 56 on socket16, which in the fitted state normally have soldered connections, areexposed to the heat given off by the light source 22. In the exemplifiedcase, for this purpose the length of the portion of light guide holder30 extending beyond the body 26. An the plugging direction isapproximately 65 mm.

[0064] The camera head is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4. It has aCCD camera 62, which is equipped with a CCD sensor 64 connected to theelectric lines 12 and an only diagrammatically shown focussing device 66with a lens system 68 with which light entering the camera head can befocussed onto the CCD sensor 64. Image signals generated by the CCDsensor 64 are transmitted to the supply and evaluating device 4 forevaluation purposes.

[0065] On the camera head 2 is provided a focussing ring 70, which canbe turned around the optical axis of the CCD camera 62. By means of apin 72 the movement of the focussing ring 70 can be transferred to thefocussing device 66, so that by solely moving the focussing ring 70, animage acquired with the CCD camera can be easily focussed with onefinger.

[0066] On the camera head is also provided a light guide channel 74opening in the viewing direction of the CCD camera 62 and into whichleads the light guide 10 of combination cable 6. Thus, the light guidechannel 74 is positioned in such a way that the light transmitted viathe light guide 10 enables the illumination of at least part of thevisual range of the CCD camera 62.

[0067] On the top of the camera head and connected to two electric lines12 is provided a push-button stitch 76, which is able to trigger thestorage in the electronic unit 20 of an image recorded by the CCD camera62 and transmitted to the supply and evaluating device 4.

[0068] The camera head 6 with CCD camera 62, with illumination by thelight guide 10, the focussing rig 70 and the push-button switch 76 allowthe camera to be easily handled with one hand.

List of Reference Numerals

[0069]2 Camera head

[0070]4 Supply and evaluating device

[0071]6 Combination cable

[0072]8 Jacket

[0073]10 Light guide

[0074]12 Electric lines

[0075]14 Connector

[0076]16 Sockets

[0077]18 Housing wall

[0078]20 Electronic unit

[0079]22 Light source

[0080]24 Lens

[0081]26 Body

[0082]28 Cuff

[0083]20 Light guide holder

[0084]32 Channel

[0085]34 Fixing portion

[0086]36 Holding ring

[0087]38 Stiffening tube

[0088]40 Contact pins

[0089]42 Connector terminal

[0090]44 Socket body

[0091]46 External thread

[0092]48 Collar

[0093]50 Nut

[0094]52 Hollow cylindrical portion

[0095]54 Holes with contact spring elements

[0096]56 Socket terminal

[0097]58 Line

[0098]60 Socket channel

[0099]62 CCD camera

[0100]64 CCD sensor

[0101]66 Focussing device

[0102]68 Lens system

[0103]70 Focussing ring

[0104]72 pin

[0105]74 Light guide channel

[0106]76 Push-button switch

1. Connector for a combination cable (6) comprising at least one lightguide (10) and several electric lines (12), having a body (26), whichcan be inserted in a plugging direction into a socket and by means ofwhich the connector (14) can be held in the socket, a light guide holder(30) having a channel (32) open at both sides for receiving the lightguide (10) and at least two contact elements (40) in each caseconnectable to one of the electric lines (12).
 2. Connector according toclaim 1, characterized in that the contact elements (40) are positionedon at least one circle coaxial to the light guide holder (30). 3.Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the light guideholder (30) extends beyond the body (26) in the plugging direction. 4.Connector according to claim 3, characterized in that the portion of thelight guide holder (30) extending beyond the body (26) in the pluggingdirection has a length of at least 10 mm.
 5. Connector according toclaim 3, characterized in that, at least in the portion extending beyondthe body (26) in the plugging direction, the light guide holder (30) hasa tubular construction.
 6. Connector according to claim 3, characterizedin that the cross-section of the light guide holder (30) in a centringportion which, in the plugging direction, is located between the contactelements and the end of the light guide holder (30), is not rotationallysymmetrical to an axis extending in the plugging direction. 7.Combination cable with at least one light guide (10) and severalelectric lines (12), whose one end is connected to a connector (14)according to claim 1, the electric lines (12) being conductivelyconnected to the contact elements (40) and the light guide (10) being sopositioned in the channel (32) of the light guide holder (30) that thelight guide (10) projects out of the body (26) in the pluggingdirection.
 8. Combination cable according to claim 7, characterized inthat the light guide (10) projects out of the body (26) in the pluggingdirection by at least four times its diameter.
 9. Combination cableaccording to claim 7, characterized in that the light guide projects outof the body (26) by at least 10 mm in the plugging direction. 10.Combination cable according to claim 7, characterized in that at leastin a portion projecting beyond the body (26) in the plugging direction,the light guide (10) is provided with a stiffening element. 11.Combination cable according to claim 7, characterized in that its otherend is connected to a camera head (2), which has an optoelectroniccamera (62) connected to the electric lines (12) and with a focusingdevice (66) adjustable for focusing purposes and a light guide channel(74) opening in the viewing direction of the optoelectronic camera (62)and in which is located the light guide (10) for the illumination of atleast part of the visual range which can be covered by theoptoelectronic camera (62).
 12. Combination cable according to claim 11,characterized in that the camera head (2) has a movable focusing ring(70), which is connected to the focusing device (66) in such a way thatthe focusing device (66) is adjustable by moving the focusing ring (70).13. Combination cable according to claim 11, characterized in that on aportion of the camera head (2) located in front of the optoelectroniccamera (62) in the viewing direction thereof is provided a switchingdevice (76) for operating the optoelectronic camera (62) or otherelectrical devices.
 14. Socket for a connector (14) according to claim 1with a socket body (44) for receiving the connector (14), a socketchannel (60) passing through the socket (16) for receiving a portion ofa light guide (10) introduced into the connector (14) when the latter isplugged into the socket (16) and with contact elements (54) connectablewith electric lines (12) for contacting the contact elements of theconnector (14).
 15. Socket according to claim 14, characterized in thatthe light guide holder (30) extends beyond the body (26) in the pluggingdirection and in that the socket channel (60) is constructed forreceiving the portion of the light guide holder (30) of the connector(14) extending beyond the body (26).
 16. Socket according to claim 15,characterized in that the cross-section of the light guide holder (30)in a centring portion which, in the plugging direction and in that atleast a portion of the socket channel (60) has a cross-section, whoseshape corresponds to the cross-section of the non-rotationallysymmetrical portion of the light guide holder (30).
 17. Device forfeeding light into at least one light guide (10) of a combination cable(6) with at least one light guide (10) and several electric lines (12),whose one end is connected to a connector, the electric lines (12) beingconductively connected to the contact elements (40) and the light guide(10) being so positioned in the channel (32) of the light guide holder(30) that the light guide (10) projects out of the body (26) in theplugging direction with a socket (16) according to claim 14 and a lightsource (22) positioned in the device in such a way that the lightemitted by the light source (22) can be fed into the light guide (10)located in the connector (14) of the combination cable (6) when theconnector (14) is plugged into socket (16).
 18. Device according toclaim 17, characterized in that an optical device (24) is provided forfocusing the light emitted by the light source (22) onto the end of thelight guide (10).
 19. Plug connection system with a connector (14) for acombination cable (6) comprising at least one light guide (10) andseveral electric lines (12), and a socket (16) according to one of theclaim
 14. 20. Endoscopy system with an optoelectronic camera (62), asupply and evaluating device (4) with a light source (22) and acombination cable (6), which comprises a light guide (10) forilluminating at least part of the visual range of the optoelectroniccamera with the light from the light source (22) and electric lines (12)for the electrical connection of the optoelectronic camera (62) to thesupply and evaluating device (4), characterized in that the combinationcable (6) can be detachably connected to the supply and evaluatingdevice (4).